Since my family immigrated to Canada in 1989, we’ve been going to Double Greeting Wonton House. Situated in a “rough” part of town—beside a hotel with a sign that ominously says, “No knives allowed” and a block away from a peep show—it isn’t necessarily considered a “jewel” of Edmonton. However, to local and loyal patrons alike (of all socio-economic status), we can’t resist the taste of greasy, authentic Chinese food at a still-reasonable price. Though, I’ve been going to this establishment long enough to know that $20 used to feed a family of six; now, that feeds maybe 2 or 3 people these days. Still, that’s relatively inexpensive and the portions are always robust.

Over the years, the restaurant has changed little. The recipes seem to have been carved in stone. In two decades, I believe there has only been one aesthetic renovation; the head waitress that was there twenty years ago is still around, as if ageless. The service for years has been brusque and borderline dismissive, but more recently, and possibly coinciding with its rise in popularity among non-Asians, they’ve been a lot more congenial. The head waitress, whose name I still don’t know, is always friendly and ready for my husband and I with plates and forks (No, I hardly use chopsticks except when I eat Pho or Japanese, but even then, I’m still more comfortable with forks.)

Wor wonton on the left, Chicken Wings in Spicy Salt on the right

At any rate, with “wonton” in the restaurant name, you won’t be disappointed in ordering their Wor Wonton soup. It is my husband’s favourite and is everything in a bowl: a medley of vegetables, squid, bbq pork, chicken, and of course, wontons, swimming in a warm and savoury broth that’s immediately comforting as it is tasty. You can’t go wrong by choosing anything in the rice or noodle dish list; a few newcomers who strayed from that list might be invariably disappointed. But as long as you stick to noodles and rice, you’ll do well.

However, since I’ve been going to DG since time immemorial, I’ve been able to stray once in a while. Chicken wings, usually a pub fare, is actually a hit for Rob and me at DG. The spicy and salty seasoning is decidedly Chinese and cannot be found in a pub. There is a satisfying crunchy batter to its exterior, and the “salty but different salty” is enough to make it taste special.